Sources: Cybersecurity Expert May Succeed Thales CEO

Nov. 15, 2012 - 01:55PM
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PARIS — Among the names being considered as a possible successor to Luc Vigneron as chief executive of defense electronics group Thales is Luc-François Salvador, a cybersecurity specialist, two sources said.

Salvador is chief executive of Sogeti, a subsidiary of the Cap Gemini IT services group, and is in charge of relations with the Defense Ministry. He also sits on the executive committee of the parent company.

Part of the job description for the Thales CEO is to play a key role in the consolidation of the defense industry.

Sogeti and Thales Communications & Security are corporate sponsors of a new chair in cyber defense and cybersecurity at France’s Saint-Cyr Coëtquidan military college. Daniel Ventre from the Centre National de Recherche Scientifique was appointed to the cyber defense chair and gave the inaugural lecture Nov. 13 at the Ecole Militaire staff college.